Tag Punch Starburst

It's been one of those weeks, and I just haven't managed to stamp. But, I did get to enjoy my one day weekend and make a few things. This is not a ten or fifteen minute card, but it actually very simple. It's called a Tag Punch Starburst, you can find several examples in the gallery at Splitcoast, and the directions here. The starburst is made with a piece of paper (designer or vellum), and 16 punch outlines made by first punching the small tag punch and then punching the regular tag punch around the punch out. It takes a little while to punch and glue all those little pieces, but is pretty simple, and the results are stunning.

Here's what I used. Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Kraft, Whisper White, Delightful Dots Designer Series Paper (the Sale-a-bration set). Stamps: So Many Sayings, a retired hostess set. Ink: Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker. Accessories: Bashful Blue taffeta ribbon, Flower Brads, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Small Oval Punch, Small Tag Punch, Tag Punch, dimensionals.

Where's the Chocolate?

I guess I'm going to have to try again tomorrow to make my simple card for my personal challenge, this one isn't that complicated, and I could probably duplicate it in 15 minutes, but start to finish is another story. As I've been looking at cards in the Spring and Summer Idea Book and Catalog I've seen several cards with combinations of Chocolate Chip and Baja Breeze, occasionally with some Kiwi Kiss thrown in. I love the color combination, and really wanted to try it. It didn't quite work out though. First, I left my catalog at work and couldn't come up with a simple layout idea on my own, so I went to the Sketch Challenge thread on Splitcoast and picked this one. Then I needed some contrasting paper for the card, picked the Sale-a-Bration designer paper, and the So Saffron in the paper kind of took over. The card base is Chocolate Chip, as is the flower branch, but other than that... I'll just have to try again tomorrow. How sad. (Not!)

Stamps: Embrace Life. Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White, Delicate Dots Designer Series Paper. Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip and So Saffron. Accessories: Rich Regal brads, sponge wedge, Blender Pen. I also textured the small strip of paper that runs vertically down the card with the Sizzix Texture Plates. This is my first time trying it. The texture is great, but not as deep as I would like it to be, I think I need to play around a little with the sandwich for the texture plates. Not tonight though, if I'm going to do taxes tomorrow I need some sleep.

Lovin' the new Cattie!!

I've been having a lot of fun at lunch browsing through my Spring and Summer Idea Book and Catalog, not to look at the stamp sets but at the cards and other items themselves. There are some great ideas in there! I've been marking a lot of layouts that I like and other ideas that I want to use. There's more than enough there to keep me busy until the next catalog comes out! Stampin' Up and I are giving away free catalogs right now, so if you'd like to browse through some of those great ideas, please let me know.

This particular layout is copied from a card using the Friends 24-7 set on page 81 of the catalog. It's simple and elegant and can be used with many different images. I wanted to show you some more of the Sale-a-Bration goodies, this features designer paper from the Delicate Designer Series Paper, and the So Saffron grosgrain ribbon from the ribbon bundle. I didn't have a birthday greeting stamp that would fit the tag punches, so I inked a couple of words from a stamp in the That's Funny stamp set separately with my Basic Black marker to make one. The whole stamp says "a candle for every year might not be such a good idea...happy birthday!" and features the image of a cake weighed down by many birthday candles. The cake on this card though is from Crazy for Cupcakes. It's difficult to tell in the scan, but the candle flame and pink sprinkles on the cake have Dazzling Diamond glitter on them. Cardstock: Whisper White, Certainly Celery and So Saffron. Ink: Black Stazon. Accessories: markers, both tag punches, 1/16" handheld punch, linen thread, Stamp-a-ma-jig, 2-way glue pen and glitter.

Challenging Myself

I issued myself a challenge today. For at least the next month I want to post 3 or more simple cards every week. Here is the first one, using several Sale-a-Bration sets and a brand new punch from Stampin' Up. The scanner didn't do well on the colors, unfortunately. If I were to make it again I would stamp the sentiments in a different color, probably Old Olive, but possibly Basic Black.

Stamps: Congrats, Polka Dot Punches (both SAB sets). Cardstock: Whisper White, Blush Blossom and Certainly Celery. Inks: Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst and Blush Blossom. Accessories: Certainly Celery Twill Ribbon (SAB ribbon bundle), 5 Petal Flower punch, Eyelet Border punch, markers, blender pen, dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by! Check back often for more simple cards. If you need a quick card idea these are guaranteed to go together fast.

Stamps ... not just for cards anymore

I've been missing for awhile, and I apologize. I've been stamping, but I've been forgetting to scan and post. I'm hoping to start posting at least a couple of times a week from now on, although tax season may get the best of me.

This is a gift for an online friend, a silver and pink necklace. I really like the way it turned out and hope she likes it too. It's made with a piece of Stylized Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, a flower from the Pretties Kit painted with Burgundy Shimmerz, pink pirouette cardstock, and rose red grosgrain ribbon. The cardstock was cut to fit the frame as I don't have that punch (yet) and stamped and embossed with silver ink and embossing powder using one of the stamps from Itty Bitty Backgrounds. The brad was from my collection, I think it's a Stampin' Up ice brad, but I'm not sure.

Have you seen the new catalog yet? There is dreamy stuff in it! And, right now, Stampin' Up will give you one for free. Just place an online order through my website anytime between now and April 1st. Don't want to order online? That's okay too. If you place a Sale-a-Bration qualifying order directly through me (does not apply to workshop orders) I'll give you one with your order.

Speaking of Sale-a-Bration - Stampin' Up is giving away stamps, designer paper and ribbon. Have you seen the flyer yet? It's great! It's jampacked with ideas for things to do with the Sale-a-Bration gifts, and the gifts themselves are great. I'm making a few birthday cards with some of them and will post them as soon as I can. In the meantime, if you didn't receive a flyer in the mail you can look at it here.